Power-transmitting device.



M. L. SEVERY.

' POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE. APPLICATION m50 mm. 26. 1912.

.1,136,279.k E f Patenfed Apr.20, 1915.

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Melvin L. Sevey;

M. L. SEVERY.

PowEn TRANsMmmG nevica. APPLICATION FILED MARZS. |912.

Patented Apr.20, 1915.

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sTATEsBATENrOFFICE mvn L. savant, or sumaron menm'nssacnusmsfassrenonlro snvnlnx mwac'runme conm, or fnos'ron," ummm-.a couronner! or IASSACHUSRTTS."

Toall whomt mag/concern: I

Be it known that I, Mmmm L Savant, a

citizen of the United States, and a residentiv of Arlington Heights, in the county'of Mid- 5 dlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, n have invented certainvnew and: useful -Improvements in Power-Transmitting Devices,

Y of which'the followingisa and exact description.` f f.

The object of this inventlonistheconstruction of improved for transmit-- ting powerfroma means to agdrlven device, the improvementslrelatmg to means whereby electroindctivefenergymay ployed in `a.' manner to permit thetransmis# sion of the whole or -of-a,v desired fractional ypar'tofthepower.'r f l l The invention is articularlyapplicableto automobiles, power ats and other-p Y zo wherein a comparatively invariable drlvlng y ymeans is employed, such as an internal combustion engine, vand. where it is?4 to vary the power taken therefrom to suit differing conditions of load. f

25 vIn motor vehicles especially, it is'fofthe Y v. utmost importance thatthe ehauleur shall have the mm rfect and instant control of the4 speed of tbz car,y and that he `shall be able-to make all n changes "at any `moment of emergency without being 'forced to .wait for certain conditions precedent to such changes. As automobiles and they like are' usually constructed, the transmission;

gearingV provides for but three or four speeds, and these cannot be changed without due regard to the speed of the at the time "the change isfattempted. 'Ingoin'gfrom the lowest to thehighest speed, forl example, the 'gears for the intermediatespeeds must 40 first beput yin mesh,'and the change from any one speed to another is abrupty and accompanied by al jolt and a momentary slippage ofthe wheels,fcausing severe strain on the mechanism and great wear of the tires.

5 Should the chauffeur, while going rapidly forward, suddenly lind it necessa toreverse, he must, perform a variety o acts to bring the car to a' standstill, and anotherV set f of acts to cause it to run in the opposite di- '50 rection at the desired speed.v In such cases of emergency failure to perform the' compllcated functions proper y, or the performance of them in the wrong order under the excitement of the moment, may result in dis- $5 astcrandlossoflife. f l

immuun of nnen raf-nt.- l appuu'enaaleaxmn se, ma. fserm n.

r1n wer. f bill another rof the car, instantly to set y rdl miles per hour; or, if desireg, the carl may y, rownn'rnansnrrme nil/vien u Patented Apr. 20, 11915.

lt is the urpose of this invention', to obvi'ate these efects and tor remove these limitations by providin means whereby a practicallyv infinite' num yof speeds, 1n leither.

direction are alwas at the command of the 0o l' operator, not by e laborious movement of a number of large levers forwhich he must f reach, but b the merel ressure of a linger s upon afsin'g e switch ywithin reach'without `even removin g the handfrom thesteering BIS` wheel. 4 -A further object of the invention ,isv to pro,- vide means whereby a singley movement either; ofa linger or of a' foot may instantly cut olf the power andapply a' brakobject is to eliminate all jar ordinarily Aex rienced in changing from one speed to ano er, thus saving wear and tear and enhancing leasure and comfort. v1i

A further obJect'is to enable the operator quite irrespective ofthe direction controlling both said direction and asingle movementof a linger, without waiting a second for the car 'pass through any speedincrementoi'decrement. Forexample; while a car is moving sixty miles an hour in y a forward direction, the ychauleurmay in" stantly set; the controlling mechanism so l5 that, without a moments further manipulation, the car will rapidly slow down, stop, reverse, and 'movey rearwa at,y say,-live be made'to come vtoa stop without reversing. In cases of emergency, such control is of inestimable value. f y, c if Another. purpose of kthe invention tok provide means for overcoming certain vital f imitations hitherto existing .in inductive n wer-transmission mechanism ofthe class erein described. Such mechanism of necessity operates b virtue of ra speed of the driving member o the inductive clutch in excess of that of the driven me thin being constant, the power transmitted will relatively t or little as this difference is great or ittle. Now this necessary slippage between the driving and driven members cuts down, in yclutches of this type, either the speed orthe eiciency,and per-v haps both,-of the driven member. In man instances it is extremely desirable, if not imperative, that they inductive power-transmis- "on shall have a speed at the driven end as n.

`,the y mber, and, other 10- etiiciency of the transmission means, is one eat as, or'greater than,that of the engine. o 1provide a means for accomplishing this, wh' e at the same time enhancing the of the purposes of my invention.

As such transmission mechanism is ordinarily constructed, there is not only no way provided to brin the driven end l of the clutch to the spee of the prime mover, but the inductive clutch is de ended uponto. do the ywork at all speeds, thereby consuming the power necessary to energize the clutch at all times when the mechamsm isin motion. This is an important defect which it is one of the objects of my invention to remedy, and it is done bycombining with the inductive power-transmission a friction clutch, or other suitable type of clutch, adapted to come into service at or beyond the maximum speed of the inductive mechanism; thus enabling the energizing current to be switched olf, andthe clutch members to drive forward substantially or entirely without -slippa e.

A similar system could be used for t e rearward drive, were it necessary, but such would not ordinarily'be the case as the speed of the linductive clutch would be far more than suilicient for progress in that direction. As this fixed-clutch drive is luse d at maximum speed, and as no power need then be used to energize the inductive clutch, the

' lpossession of such a clutch at no'time puts a prejudicial tax -upon the driving-7 engine, since there is always a surplusage of power when'it is used, and since its useelimmates friction representing probablymany times d the power taken to energize the clutch.

Another object of the invention isf'to provide a means for preventing the strain, jolt and wear of the iiied clutch when it is shut in, this being accomplished by having the inductive clutch carry itsmaximum load at justthat instant.

decreasing that gyroscopic tendenc A still'further object .of the invention is to provide braking means operating withoutv dents 1n automobiles.

'creased power and-rapidity due to the great Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby such use of either the forward-driving or the rearward-driving members of the clutch, when used as a brake, or for reversing, shall act with greatly ininductive slippage resulting from the fact that the coacting clutch members are at the' y 'instant revolving in opposite directions.

Still another prime object of my invention is the doing away with the necessity for 'shifting gears whether in changing from one forward drive to reverse,.or in changing the speed either drive, thus enhancing the comfort, mmimizingwear, and greatly increasin safety by reason of the exceedin tractabllity of the mechanism. Another object; of the invention is to simplify 'construction and to render the control of thecar much easier of acquirement Y and far less liable to be improperly. admind A further object of the invention is to enable vthe engine to deliver its full power to sgrades i the car at a car-speed so low that may be .climbed which at ordinary slowspeeds of cars as at present constructed would stall the en ine.

Another object oft e invention is to make it possible, where desired, to do away with` the awkward side hand levers o f the present automobile, running the car 4enti-rely :fromv theusteering wheel and foot-levers.

esirable added purpose accomplished is that of l doing away with the heavy fly-wheelordi-l narily found necessary, and having tlie clutch members perform all the work thereof.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, 'Figure 1 is :a sectional plan view of a power transmission and braking device made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the steering mechanism forming part of the invention. Fig. 3 isa detail view of a part of the inductive clutch used therein. -Fig. 4 is a sectionalA plan view of a modification of the invention. Fig.` 5 is a, plan view of a further modification thereof.

Referring to Fig. 4, the reference numeral l designates a shaft to which power is imparted rfrom a sourceat its left hand, extremity, su posedly an internal combustion engine, suc ,the drivin member. Fixed upon this shaft to rotate t erewith is a drum 2 contaiuing'a spool having windings 3 adapted when electrically energized to cause-magnetic lines of force to stream across the annularslot 9.

A similar drum 4 and `windin 5 are located concentric with vsaid sha t but supportedl upon fixed frame members-6, 7 so that it cannet turn. Each drum is formed with annular slots 9 in which is freely movable an annulus 10, preferably 'of copper,

suitably mounted upon a disk or wheel 11- loo shaft being therefore termed l carriedby 'a sleeve movable on said 'Li B71 sliding L'said sleeve *wird l shaft 14 are made to revo ve together. By sliding the clutch member 16 away from itsV brought into coaction',v.,saidf sleeve being f moved by asuitableshi arm'13.

The rotary motion of -said'sleeve is comf coperating member until the spur gear 19 intermeshes with the idler gear 20, a reverse motion is communicated to the shaft -14 ,through said idler'a'n'd gears'21, 22 and 23; but by sliding said member 16 to appoint l midway of its two extremes rof movement,

.said sleeve and shaft are made .independent of each otherva'n opower 1s commum cated to wheels or other mechamsm l .PP11.11.-=.fr www' 1 windings 3 randl`5 byfmea'na of an 'electric generatory 25 rotated by wer belted from thedriving shaft .1; or

be ,dispensedwithfand a battery orother y y source of current. used.l In'. either case,-one

end of the win l in circuit with the- @j n work of the'mec a, nism,which in with the y generatorvby leads 26, '27. f The other pole of the generatorisconnected by a wire 29 tothe emergency lever '30 which carries a brush 31 movable into touch with either'of the three contacts 32, 32, 32". y. The intermediate'contacti 32 is joined by awire33to `the'lever arm34` carrying a brush arranged to contacts 35 of a variabler resistancel 50 of a resistancegy51.' n one end of said resistance a wire 37 witha brush 39 in touch with the insulated collar .40which is joined withtlley terminal of the. winings3notincircuitwiththeframew01' .o i y 'I Y With the emergen rlever30 in its illustrated position, and u e leverarm 34 moved so'as to be in touch withthe contact 48. ofy theV rheostat, the currenty from the generator flows throu l I 30, brnsl1`31, in l contact 32, wire 33,1ever arm 34, restance; 36, wire 37, brush 39, collar 40, windings 3,` framework, and wire 26,27, back tothey other pole of the generator. Byvarying theposltion of the -lever arm 34 between the insulated section 49 and the left end ofthe rheostat, in order f to cut in or out different d of `Yreu sistance,the currenty delivered to said windgenerator may cfg/each spool is utv and 'the contactsr l` the wire 29, lever:

willy be correspondingly varied,

similarly a y For energizing the windings 5, the cur` rent from the generator 25; traverses. the wire 29, lever 30, brush 31, intermediate coal-- tact 32, wire 33, lever arm 34,-the latter' having been movedinto touch with the right handr contacts 50,-resistance 51, thence by thel wire 41 to one terminaly of' the windings 5, and then throughthe latter andthe framework and via the wires 26 and 27 back to the generator. By this ent, when the the inductive gri on the annulus 1,0 will be s' y I rodr 42 yis provely forced .toward the;V

right, andthe annuluslO caused thereby to 'enter fartherinto the drum 2, the lever arm 34 is made tol move toward thek left hand contacts y35 and so to cut out resistance :ini thecircuit of the windings 3, until the rip ,1.

mg, action of these, rotating windings 3 is'imparting its maximumvfpro ulsiveimoh `mentr to the associated ann us. When A is reached,t.the conicaly Vclutching surfaces 43, v43Il are preed into this last degree sullicient et to yenable the driving of they driven members to be lperformed entirely thereby.

'If desired, a switch 44 in the circuit of the windings 3 may be turned to cut o ut the cur rent thereto, so that the power on will bei performed b entirely; or a switch 8 in the feed lineA 26 ma :be used to cut all the current out of bot windings.

f In me is 1S M suddenly to stop um' automobile, as in some emerenc. the lever 30 is thrown to present itslowermost vcontact 32, when the current 1 lwill be made to traverse the wires 38, 41, and all resistance will be cut, out from the Stationary windings andy their full braking power will be brought into effect. By shiftmg the emergency lever 30 to' .presentits brush to the'topmost contacty 32, full current .will be switchedy tothe driving windvings 3, and thus the maximum inductive force will be exerted upon 'the associated annulus.

In thek construction shown in Fig. stantially the only dierence over t at above described is that of the arrangement of the variable power transmission .device yony a countershaft geared tothe engine shaft '1 since the gear 19 can be 4shifted out ofits meshwith the gear 22,- or into mesh with 4the idler 20; this latter being adapted tok give a yreverse motiony to the shaft 14. .'I

prefer in this construction to speedfu fromk the shaft 1 to the shaft' 1, and to s r5,- sub- .lll

and to the shaft 14connected with the drivingy wheels of theautomobile. lI-Iere therey l .need be no clutch members 16, 18 (Fig. 4), f

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. n the friction clutch f the shaft 1, but any desired speed may be attained by suitably arranging the sizes of the gears.

Y I prefer to locate a coiled spring 45 between the drum 2 and the sleeve 12 in order that a simplel movement of the chaufeurs foot releasing the power treadlefwill effect the shuttin olf of the power anddisengaging'of the riction members43, 43, and will at the same `time apply the inductive braking action, provided the rod 42 is permitted to swing a suflicient distance to the left. If no braking action is desired when the power is thus diminished or cut oli, therod 42 is restrained from its full movement so that the contacting lever 34 is not permitted to pass the insulated section 49.' v When theautomobile is to be brought gradually to a stop from its hi hest speed, the chauii'eur slowly releases. t e rod' y42, which has by means of the lever 46 intermediately pivoted at 47 been holding the clutch members 43, 43i in engagement, and graduall `reduces the degree of driving energy in t e coil or windings 3 to zero, and thenv raduall increases the 'braking action o the coil or windings 5 to maximum. All' this may with perfect propriety, however, be done instantly.,

For convenience of illustration, the emer'-,

gency switch 30 and variable resistance lever 34 are shown as if close to the clutch 43, 43, thoughthis would not ordinarily be so in practice. When -used in .an automobile or the like, both of these'udevices would preferably be close to the hand or foot `of the.

' mei-al 1 designates the transmission shaft;

1, the shaft receiving power from the engine and suitably geared toA the shaft 1; 2, the 'drum containing the coil or 3 the same as the like-numbered parts previously described;` and 25, the generator belted to lsaid shaft 1. A

' Fixed upon the shaft 1, which is preferably squared for 'such purpose, is another,

inductive clutch -drum 60 similar tothe'inductive clutch drum 2, but smaller in diameter; said drums being separated magnetically by a thin non-magnetic disk 61. This drum 60 is also provided with a spool and windings or coils 62, adapted when energized to create a strong magnetic ieldm the annular spaces 9 (Figs. 1 and 3), the magbetween the parts 63 yfor such coaction when said annulus is l pressed farther within the drum 2. Said -jannulus isthus moved kby being carried upon the flange 67 of the wheel 69 fixed on a sleeve 70 longitudinally radjusted. by a suitable shifting lever 71. The annulus 66 'rotatable 4in the s ace 9 ofthe drum 60,v is supported-by a disk 72 rigid with a sleeve 73 rotatable upon said shaft 1 and within l'said sleeve 70. Said annuli 65, 66 are made rotatable `in opposite directions b means of the spur gear 74 fixed on the sleeve 70, the gear 75 meshing therewith and fixed on the driven shaft 14, the ear 76 fixed on said shaft, the idler gear 77 meshingwith the gear' 76, land the gear -79 meshingwith A said idler and fixed on the sleeve 73. If.

now the coil 3 is energized and the annulus 65 is consequently 'made to rotate there- Withfthe shaft 14 will be turned in a di' rection op osite to that of the shaft 1; but if said coil 62 energized, then the annulus 66 rotated by the latter will cause the shaft 14"L to turn in the same direction as does the shaft 1.

Consequently all that needs to be done inv order to reverse the car provided vwith this power transmission, is to throw a little switch, controlling the current to said coils.

The electric connections for the coil 3 is substantially the same as that described in 3 is demagnetiz'ed and the coil connection with the first form of `my trans. v

mission device, the current passing from the generator 25 or other current-source, through the wire 26, switch 78, wire '27 framework and shafting to one terminal of said coil, and thence from the other termi.

nal to the vinsulated collar- 40, brush 39, 'wire 37, switch 44 in the last-named wire, resistance 36, lever 34, wire 33, contact 32, brush 31,.switch lever 30 and wire 29 back to .the generator. By varying the `position of the rheostatarmor lever 34, the strength of the ma etic flux of said coilz3fis cor- ,lresponding y varied, and yalso the torque "eiertedthereby upon the annulus 65. As

the torque increases or diminishes, the slippage between the coil and annulus varies accordingly, and hence. the less the magnetic flux of said coil, the slower the speed communicated to the driven member. If, now

" the current is cut out from the coil 3 an cut into the coil 62, .correspondingly variias n ,switch' means for such p to the driven member of shaft 14P; the comprising the ever 34,l and the circuit for thus energizing the coil .62 ofthe wire 29 from the generator 25, switch or emer- 'ncy lever 30, brush31, contact 32, wire 33,y

ever 34, resistance 51, wire 80, brush 81, collar l82, and one terminal of thev coil 62; thence through the latterfand the framework grounded therewith, wirer 27, switch 78 and the wire 26 back to said generator.

- The emergency switch 30 for i on either full ahead or full i 4astern, operates e same as in the construcv tion iirst described. In additil to this switch, I prefer to provide a foot lever r85 adapted for switching intothe coil 62 a full current, nofmatter what thel conditions or current may be at the moment in either coil.v When said foot lever is moved to present its brush 86 into touch with the contact *87, the currentflows directlyr through the wires 29,89 to said lever, and

-thencethrough said brush and contact and suitable 'connections tothe wire 80, and

brush 81 to the. coil62. \The advantage of this foot lever 85 is that it enables the reverse inductive yclutchA -instantly andy fullyk kto be thrown into/action, andA the automobile brou ht to a' stop at a vmoment when the chau eurs Lhands may both be busy,

and even though al1 or any part of the resistance may be inthe circuit, or though the switchv 44 may be open. This or returning it instantly to normal as soon as it is released.

To' insure thaty when, rthrough the operation of the rod 42, lever 46 and shiftingy arm 71, the clutchv members 43, 43* are-put into engagement, therey may be currentin the the circuit to said coils. As soonl asthe clutch is fully engaged, the ycurrentfmay be cut out from the coils 3, preferably by opening the switch 44, or the switchr 78, and the car ruii at` full speed through the contactual clutch ton 43, 43* alone. The two levers 94 and 95 shown in Fig. 2 rep.-

resent the usual throttles and spark control.

Byl having a la number of contacts 35 k(Fig. 4) for the resistance 36, an equal number of dierent speeds forward is rovisceg but in case a finer gradatioii sti had, as in a p oul whichA is moving sli htl slower than one speed ,and slightly y g y 'and another portion contactually,

faster than the next vslower one, it only mauve e able reverse 'A motion is thereby I transmitted i emer-V ency lever is provided with` a spring rfor transmitting means tof'the driven ymechamsiii, a portion u shifiju two contacts controlling the adjacent degrees of resistance and-'thereby m average ofspeed equal to that of the other vswi lever 34 back and forth between the i engine to work at its most economical' speed, with any desired'car-speed. It is economical -f to use, since .the current employed is probf ably yless than the power consumed by, the usual ars; at all events, such power is negligi le, for the clutch only'requires when the'fi'iction clutch 'is out, an vthat means that it only needs power when the engine has power to spare, that is, when it is not driving aty top It provides superior emergency conditions, inasmuch as f a mere movementofthe chauifeurs iin cuts out the current and applies a braking action; Y and in other ways this' variable power transmission secures the advantages 'set forth herein before.v

What I 'claim asm invention and for whichI desire Letters to wit;-'`

1. The combination with a driving 'means `atent is as follows,

and ra. driven mechanism., of inductive clutch-r f I ing means for transmitting forward motion from the drivingmeans to the driven mechanism, inductive clutching means for transmitting rearward motion yfrom the driving means'to the driven mechanism and electrically actuatedymeans o rative at'will whereby while either of Sai forward pro;

pellii'ig or krearward propelling clutching means remains in operation, the other clutching means may be made to brake the action `of said operating clutching means.

2. The combination with a driving means and driven mechanism, of inductive `clutch` ing lmeans' for transmitting forward motion lfrom the driving means tothe driven mechanism, inductive clutching means for transmittingreavward motion from the drivingr means to the driven mechanism,r and means4 operative at will whereby when either the' ios forward-propelling clutching means, or the rearward-propelling clutching means is in ,n

operation, the other clutching means may be made to brake the action of said operating clutching means, said clutching means being so interrelated that the speedkk imparted by the driving action of 'one ,intensifies the brakin action ofthe other. f

53.l e .combinationwith a driving in and a 'driven mechanism, of clutchingmeans power ,fromfgthe driving of said fclutchi'ngmeans acting inductively clutch member carried b'y the drivin means,

means for varying the power of said inductive portion of the clutching means, means for rendering operative the contactual portionof said clutching means, and means 5 whereby said inductive clutching power is at its maximum when said contactual portion -of the clutching means becomes operative.

4. The cmbinaiion with a driving means and a driven mechanism', of two inductive clutches operatively connected with the same, a source of current and circuits for said clutches, a rheostat in the circuit of common to both circuits nd adapted to sweep over both rheostats successively, the latter being insulated from each other.

, 5. The combination with a driving means and a driven mechanism, of two inductive clutches operatively connected with the same, a source of current and circuits for said clutches, a rheostat in the circuit of each clutch, and a single contact member common to both circuits and ada ted to sweep over bothrheostatsl successive y, said tliecircuit-connection of each rheostat. being at its outermost end.

6. The combination with a driving means and a driven mechanism, of a mechanical afeeperating clutch member carrie by the driven mechanism, an inductive clutch mein` ber carried by the driving means, anannulus carried by the driven mechanism in the field of said inductive clutch member,

clutch member being rigid said coperatil with said ann us, and means forV moving said annlllus axially at will andthereby putting' said mechamcal clutch members into The combination with a driving means and a driven mechanism, of two variable clutches between said means a'nd mechanism,

fone of said clutches being adapted for. de-

livering a reverse direction of motion, and

:a single movable controller for both clutches, f'said,` controller being adapted to deliver maximum wer at each extreme position,

each clutch; and a single'v ontact memberk to switch energizing current of any predetermined range of power to either clutch, whereby one inductive clutch mayl act as a brake to the energy previously delivered through the other clutch.

- 9. The combination with is turned by the driving means and the other o f which turns with the driven mecha# v limited relative axial play, two coacting friction clutch mem,

nism, said members having bers connected with the respective members of said clutch, means controlled at will for. relatively shifting the latter members and4 putting the friction clutch members into Aengagement, vand means for energizing the inductive clutch adapted to be put into operation by said controlled means immediately prior to the engagement of said fric4 tion clutch members.

10. The combination with adriving meansand a driven mechanism, oftwo inductive; clutches each comprising a magneticallypattractive drum having an annular slot ina a driving means; and a driven mechanism, of an inductivev clutch comprising two membersl one of which flat face, and a coil within the drum adapt-:

ed to make' the edges of said slot of opposite polarity, one drum being of smaller diameter than the other, an annulus rotative' freely in eachslot, a shaft'supporting and turmng with said drums, a sleeve rotative. on

said shaft and carryingismaller annulus, a

sleeve rotative on the named sleeve and carrying the larger annulus, means. forcing said sleeves to rotate in opposite directions,

and means controlled rat will for energizing said coils. 1

` 11. The combinationwith a driving means and a driven mechanism, of two inductive miv clutches for transmitting power fromthe driving means to the driven mechanism, one clutch being adapted to deliver a reverse motion, a current source and rheostats adapted for the energization of said clutches and havi a common controlling lever and suitable circuits, and an emergency switch co'nnected with said circuits and adapted by a i slight movement to cut out said rheostatsl from the circuits of either inductive clutch.

5e and to diminish such power as it is moved i toward an intermediate position.- V

.8.y The combination with a driving'means and driven mechanism, of two inductive Vclutches between said means and mechanism,

In `testimony that I- claim the fore oing. invention, I have hereunto set my han this 23rd day of March, 1912.

MELVIN LrsEvERY.

55 one .of said clutches being adapted for de Witn: f

hvering a reverse direction of rotation, and A. B. Urmm, c a controller adapted, by a single movement, l AmixANnmz I.- Pacman. 

